Good health influences how children feel and go about their daily lives, as it can affect participation in family life, schooling, social and sporting activities, according to the Australia Institute Health and Welfare.
The first 1000 days of a child’s life - from the time of conception up to when a child is 24 months of age - are the most important for their growth and development and to establish wellbeing later in life.
As children are constantly growing, good nutrition is key to support their growth and development, and it gives them the energy they need to concentrate, learn and play, documented by the National Health and Medical Research Council.
However, Australia-wide, more than half (59 per cent) of all food insecure households are experiencing the most extreme level of hardship, regularly skipping meals or going entire days without food.
In WA, more than 370,000 households experienced food insecurity in the last 12 months with close to 200,000 households experiencing severe food insecurity in the same time period meaning 1 in 5 people are facing days of no food, according to the latest research by Foodbank.
A healthy diet supports children’s physical and cognitive development, helps to prevent overweight and obesity, helps to maintain a healthy weight, increases quality of life, protects against infection, and protects against the development of chronic conditions in adulthood, backed by data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare and the World Health Organization.
“As parents make most of the food purchasing decisions within the family home, it is vital for them to be supported with the knowledge and skills to feed their families," Foodbank WA CEO Kate O'Hara explained.
Foodbank WA’s nom! nutrition education and cooking program is tailored for parents with young children up to five years of age to help guide them to teach children to eat and make mealtimes less stressful and support their child’s health.
“Supporting parents with the knowledge, skills and confidence to feed children is fundamental in ensuring we can give children the best start to life,” Ms O’Hara said.
“Teaching children to cook from an early age is important as it is a life skill. Cooking is also a great opportunity to teach kids about food, where it comes from, what the best choices are, and how it helps them to grow and develop. Foodbank’s nom! Schools program also supports children in the promotion of healthy eating and cooking.”
World Prematurity Day
In recognition of World Prematurity Day on 17 November, Mrs Darrilyn Dawson hosted a special reception for the Women and Infants Research Foundation (WIRF) at the Government House Ballroom. The Governor of Western Australia, His Excellency the Honourable Chris Dawson AC APM and Mrs Dawson are Joint Patrons of WIRF.
The event was attended by Her Excellency the Honourable Sam Mostyn AC, Governor-General of Australia, who joined in highlighting the critical need for awareness and action around preterm birth and its impacts on families, together with WIRF Ambassadors Amy and Mike Hussey.
The reception served as an important platform to raise awareness about the potentially devastating effects of preterm birth and to celebrate WIRF’s achievements in preventing preterm births and improving pregnancy outcomes.
Front (L-R) WIRF Chair Tony Walsh, WIRF CEO Deb Portughes, Her Excellency the Honourable Sam Mostyn AC, Governor-General of Australia, WIRF Joint Patron Mrs Darrilyn Dawson, Hugo Moullin, Anita Moullin. Back (L-R) WIRF Directors Associate Professor Graeme Boardley, Marnie Paoliello and Dr Mei Lon Ng, WIRF Chief Scientist Professor Matt Kemp, WIRF Director Wylie Collins.
During her address, Mrs Dawson emphasised WIRF’s pivotal role in advancing scientific research to prevent preterm birth and improve treatments for preterm babies.
“Preterm birth is the leading cause of death and disability in children under five,” Mrs Dawson said. “It's reassuring to know that we have some of Western Australia's brightest minds at WIRF, who are working so hard to find innovative ways to support babies and families with health challenges associated with premature birth.”
Each year, around 13.4 million babies are born prematurely worldwide, with around one million tragically passing on the day of their birth. In Australia, nearly one in ten babies – around 26,000 – are born prematurely each year, and the rates are almost double in Aboriginal and disadvantaged communities.
Those who survive often face lifelong challenges such as cerebral palsy, chronic lung disease, blindness, diabetes, and developmental delays.
WIRF’s contributions in preterm birth prevention have made it a global leader in the field. Its pioneering programs have successfully reduced the rate of preterm birth in Western Australia by 8 per cent, and these programs are now being implemented nationwide, showing early signs of success in reducing preterm birth across Australia.
Women and Infants Research Foundation (WIRF) Chair Tony Walsh, WIRF CEO Deb Portughes, Her Excellency the Honourable Sam Mostyn AC, Governor-General of Australia, and WIRF Joint Patron Mrs Darrilyn Dawson.
WIRF also continues its groundbreaking research, which includes artificial womb technology and antenatal steroid studies to enhance outcomes for preterm babies.
Deb Portughes, WIRF CEO, extended her gratitude to Governor Dawson, Mrs Dawson, the Governor-General, and WIRF’s supporters for championing awareness of preterm birth and its global impacts.
“The support we receive from our Patrons and the wider community is invaluable,” Ms Portughes said. “Together, we are making strides toward a future where more babies can be born at full term, giving them the healthiest start in life.”
